michelle obama tour chicago

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Michelle obama announces 2022 u.s. book tour dates.

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Michelle Obama is bringing The Light We Carry Tour to select cities across the U.S. and wants to make sure her fans have access to tickets.

Demand is expected to be high for these shows, so registering for Verified Fan is your best chance at getting tickets to see Michelle Obama live. While Verified Fan doesn’t guarantee that everyone who registers will get a ticket, it does help ensure only fans are invited to purchase tickets.

Read on for information about how to register for your chance to buy tickets.

How many tickets can I purchase?

Fans may purchase a maximum of four (4) tickets per show they have been invited to shop during the Verified Fan Presale u sing their unique access code.

Can I change or update the shows I register for?

Yes, you can update your show preferences any time before registration ends. To do so, return to the Verified Fan registration link and click “edit entry”. Only your last selections will be considered once registration closes.

Can I register more than once to increase my invitation status?

No, only one registration is permitted per person.

When does Verified Fan registration close?

Registration closes on Monday, September 26 at 3 PM ET .

When does the Verifi ed Fan Presale be gin?

Verified Fan Presales will begin at 10 AM local venue time on Wednesday, September 28.

Does registering mean I get a Verified Fan access code?

Access codes are never guaranteed, and due to anticipated demand, fans are selected at random to receive an invitation to shop for tickets during the Verified Fan Presale.

When submitting my registration I received a 6-digit authentication code from Ticketmaster. Can I use this code to purchase tickets during the Verified Fan Presale?

No, if selected for the Verified Fan Presale you will receive a new, unique, alphanumeric access code the night prior to your show going on sale. The previous 6-digit authentication code you received when registering was sent to verify your mobile phone number. It cannot be used to purchase tickets.

I received a confirmation email, what does that mean?

This email is to confirm your details and that we successfully received your registration. It doesn’t, however, guarantee you’ll receive an invitation to purchase tickets. On Tuesday, September 27, you’ll receive an email with additional information about your invitation status.

Does getting an access code mean I will get tickets?

Only fans who have been verified and invited to shop by receiving an access code will have the opportunity to purchase tickets during the Verified Fan Presale.

Receiving an access code means that you’ll have the opportunity to shop for tickets. However, the ability to purchase tickets is determined by supply and demand, and is not guaranteed. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis.

If selected, fans will also receive a text message to the number provided during registration. This text will include a unique access code and a link to shop. Keep an eye out for this text and be careful not to accidentally delete it.

The Waiting Room will open 10 minutes before the sale begins. You may only join the Waiting Room using the same Ticketmaster account that you registered with.

When the sale begins, fans in the Waiting Room will be assigned a spot in line. When it is your turn to shop, you must enter your access code exactly as it appears to access tickets.

Can I share my access code with my friends or family?

To purchase tickets with your unique code during the Verified Fan Presale, yo u must be logged in to the Ticketmaster account you registered with. Your access code is unique to your account and for this reason, fans will not be able to share their codes with friends or family.

What device should I use to purchase tickets?

All ticket purchases must be made online. Please be prepared to shop for tickets using your computer, mobile web, or Ticketmaster app. Tickets will not be available by phone.

Can I sign into the same Ticketmaster account on multiple devices to shop?

No, when you sign into the same account on multiple devices it may result in errors and/or limit you from shopping during the Verified Fan Presale. Before th e sale begins, please double check you are only signed into the Ticketmaster account you registered with on one device.

How many tabs can I have open at once?

Please only open one tab. As a reminder:

• Please only join the Waiting Room once and only use one tab to reduce any delays.
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Is it true only one device is allowed per WiFi network and others will be blocked?

No. Fans using a public or shared WiFi network, no matter how many people are sharing, will NOT be blocked from shopping for tickets. We encourage everyone to sign into their own Ticketmaster account and join the Waiting Room 10 minutes before the sale begins.

I got an email telling me that I’m on the Waitlist, what does that mean?

Due to extremely high demand, not all fans who register may be invited to purchase tickets during the Verified Fan Presale. Should additional tickets become available, a select number of registered fans may be randomly selected to move off the waitlist. If this happens, you will be notified via text message.

Will there be a way to purchase tickets other that the Verified Fan Presale?

The General Public On Sale will b e Friday, September 30 be ginning at 10 AM local venue time.

Why do I see tickets available to purchase on another site before the Verified Fan Sale has even happened?

Many unofficial sellers will list tickets before they even go on sale. This practice is called speculative listing and fans should not trust resellers claiming to have tickets. Those speculative listings are not real tickets in hand. Beware of these sellers. Learn more about spec tickets here .

What are the health check requirements?

In the best interest of fans and staff, the Event Organizer is monitoring local COVID-19 trends and will meet or exceed protocols mandated by local governments, local venues and tours. By purchasing tickets to this event, you agree to abide by the health and safety measures in effect at the time of the event, which may include, but not be limited to, wearing masks, providing proof of vaccination & booster status and/or providing proof of negative COVID-19 test. Check back often for updates to your event venue website as guidelines are subject to change.

Where can I find more infor mation on the Michelle Obama 2022 Book and Tour?

For more information, visit here .

Michelle Obama 2022 BOOK TOUR DATES

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Michelle Obama's "The Light We Carry" Tour

6-City Limited Run Book Tour Will Launch on November 15.

Live Nation and Crown, an imprint of Random House, announced Michelle Obama’s live U.S. book tour events in support of her new, highly anticipated book, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times. Produced by Live Nation, the six-city U.S. tour will kick off in Washington, D.C. at Warner Theatre on November 15. The book tour will also make stops in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco, before wrapping December 13 at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles, CA. 

To ensure tickets get into the hands of fans directly, the tour has partnered with Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan platform. Fans can register now through Monday, September 26, for the Verified Fan presale HERE. Verified Fans who receive a code will have access to purchase tickets before the general public on Wednesday, September 28, at 10:00 AM local time. Only fans that have received a unique code will have the chance to purchase tickets on a first come, first served basis. All tickets will be made available during the Verified Fan presale; any remaining tickets will be sold at the general public onsale beginning Friday, September 30, at 10:00 AM local time. 

It is important to Mrs. Obama that her tour events are accessible to as many people as possible. That’s why, in partnership with Live Nation, Mrs. Obama is giving away a select number of community member tickets in each market. Additional details are forthcoming.

An inspiring follow-up to her critically acclaimed, #1 bestselling memoir Becoming, former First Lady Michelle Obama’s The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, will be released globally on November 15, 2022.    In this new book, Mrs. Obama offers readers a series of fresh stories and insightful reflections on change, challenge, and power, including her belief that when we light up for others, we can illuminate the richness and potential of the world around us, discovering deeper truths and new pathways for progress. Drawing from her experiences as a mother, daughter, spouse, friend, and First Lady, she shares the habits and principles she has developed to successfully adapt to change and overcome various obstacles—the earned wisdom that helps her continue to “become.” She details her most valuable practices, like “starting kind,” “going high,” and assembling a “kitchen table” of trusted friends and mentors. With trademark humor, candor, and compassion, she also explores issues connected to race, gender, and visibility, encouraging readers to work through fear, find strength in community, and live with boldness.

Additional information about The Light We Carry is available  at www.michelleobamabooks.com .

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• michelle obama

'We go high': Michelle Obama talks Chicago childhood, life after White House in exclusive interview

Obama says growing up on South Side built essential 'foundation' for getting through tough times

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Michelle Obama said the last few years were not easy, even for her.

The tough days of the pandemic had her reaching in her own toolbox.

"I was in a low place just like everyone else, and I had to find my light in order to be able to share it with the young people who were looking up to me, asking me, 'How, when, how did we get here? How do I get out?' This book was born out of necessity for me to pull myself out of the dark space and think about 'How do I do that?'" Obama said.

It's a question Obama says many young people are asking.

"They're struggling with anxiety. They're struggling with how to overcome their fears," Obama said. "They want to know how they overcome these feelings of being imposters in their own skin."

It's a question she found the answer to years ago, right at home in Chicago. She said her childhood on Euclid Avenue on the city's South Side was "the foundation" for developing essential tools.

"We were poor. We lived in a small house, but what they gave us was a feeling of importance, a belief that our voices mattered at a very young age, a sense of understanding, of pushing through, resilience," Obama. "None of this had to do with money, but it's been the foundation for everything I've been able to do in my life."

Obama spoke candidly about what it was like growing up with a parent with a disability.

"Most people know my father had MS," Obama said.

She talked about the breadwinner who she watched go from standing to falling and the lesson that taught her.

"We had to make adjustments and be very adaptable as a family to make sure he could get to and from places. We learned that at an early age. So, we were cautious. We were vulnerable in ways that we probably didn't even realize. But, we also saw him fall and get up and keep going," Obama said.

It's a tool she would later use to coin the phrase, "When they go low, we go high." It's not just a motto to her or her husband, but an action plan.

"Going high is a reminder for me and my husband that we have a responsibility to make sure that the people are listening to us in a rational, thoughtful way," Obama said. "So, when people ask me, 'Is it still time to go high?' The answer I give is, 'Yes. Always yes.'"

Obama and ABC7's Val Warner are just getting started. Tune in to Windy City Weekend on Friday to watch Warner's exclusive interview with the former first lady. She dives deeper into the importance of relationships from her girlfriends at the kitchen table, her parents and, of course, the man she calls home, former President Barack Obama. You'll want to see how she takes Val to school on her son!

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Michelle Obama adds second Chicago event, brings along David Letterman, Heather McGhee

Book tour brings former first lady to chicago theatre to discuss ‘the light we carry: overcoming in uncertain times.’.

Michelle Obama joins host David Letterman on her first appearance on his “Late Show” in 2012.

Michelle Obama has added a second Chicago date to her upcoming book tour, and invited comedian David Letterman and author Heather McGhee along for the fun.

Already booked for Dec. 5 at the Chicago Theatre, the former first lady said Wednesday that she’ll also take the stage the next night.

At each event she’ll be joined by a moderator, and tour planners announced Wednesday that Letterman, the former CBS “Late Show” host, will fill the role on Dec. 5. At Obama’s side Dec. 6 will be McGhee, author of “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together.”

Tickets are available at  www.michelleobamabooks.com . Tickets range from $99 to $350, and some include a copy of the book.

Called “The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times,” it comes out Nov. 15.

Set to moderate at other stops on the six-city tour are Ellen DeGeneres, Elizabeth Alexander, Gayle King, Hoda Kotb, Tyler Perry, Conan O’Brien, Tracee Ellis Ross, Michele Norris and Oprah Winfrey.

David Letterman to Join Michelle Obama's Book Tour in Chicago

“michelle obama: the light we carry tour” is set to run dec. 5-6 at the chicago theatre, published october 10, 2022 • updated on october 10, 2022 at 10:57 am.

Oprah Winfrey, David Letterman and Ellen DeGeneres are among the celebrity moderators joining former first lady Michelle Obama on tour for  her upcoming book, “The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times.”

Other guests include Conan O’Brien, Tracee Ellis Ross, journalists Gayle King and Michele Norris, “Today” show host Hoda Kotb, poet Elizabeth Alexander and advocate Heather McGhee.

24/7 Chicago news stream: Watch NBC 5 free wherever you are

“For me, ‘The Light We Carry’ book tour will be about starting important conversations and digging deeper into the questions that all of us are grappling with as we live through uncertain times,” Obama said in a statement released Oct. 5 by her publisher, Crown, and the tour’s producer, Live Nation. “I can’t wait to get back on the road and dive into it with such a thoughtful, impressive group of moderators.”

On Oct. 5, Crown and Live Nation also announced that Obama has added seven stops to her  monthlong, six-city tour,  which begins at Washington’s Warner Theatre on Nov. 15, the book’s publication date. Additional appearances have been scheduled in Washington, along with Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco.

Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Chicago Catch-Up newsletter here.

Some of the moderators, including Winfrey and Alexander, spoke with Obama when she promoted her  2018 memoir “Becoming.”  For the current tour, DeGeneres will be on stage for the first two nights, in Washington, with Perry scheduled to interview her in Atlanta, Letterman in Chicago and Winfrey for the last stop, in Los Angeles’ YouTube Theater on Dec. 13.

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Michelle Obama Tour

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Tour Kicks Off Launch of New Book

Former First Lady Michelle Obama is taking her new book on tour this winter. If you loved Obama’s global bestseller Becoming, you’re guaranteed to appreciate her follow up, The Light We Carry, which tackles themes of uncertainty, connection, and kindness.

Autographed copies of the book will be available for purchase at tour events while supplies last. Additionally, several influential celebrities will act as moderators for the tour, including Oprah, Gayle King, David Letterman, and Conan O’Brien. So, get ready for an evening you won’t soon forget! Click the links below to purchase your Michelle Obama Tour Tickets today!

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Michelle Obama Announces All-Star Lineup of Moderators and Additional Dates for The Light We Carry Tour

Tour will kick off Tuesday, November 15th, at Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. with Ellen DeGeneres

Today, Live Nation and Crown, an imprint of Random House, announced the list of moderators scheduled to appear with former First Lady, Michelle Obama, on her upcoming U.S. book tour in support of The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times.

Due to overwhelming demand, Michelle Obama has recently added an additional seven dates across the six cities on her highly anticipated tour. Produced by Live Nation, the U.S. tour will kick off in Washington, D.C., with two nights at Warner Theatre on Tuesday, November 15th and Wednesday, November 16th, both featuring Ellen DeGeneres moderating the conversation. The other tour events will be moderated by an all-star lineup of speakers including Elizabeth Alexander (11/17), Gayle King (11/18), Hoda Kotb (11/19), Tyler Perry (12/2 + 12/3), David Letterman (12/5), Heather McGhee (12/6), Conan O’Brien (12/9), Tracee Ellis Ross (12/10), Michele Norris (12/11), and Oprah Winfrey (12/13).

“For me, The Light We Carry book tour will be about starting important conversations and digging deeper into the questions that all of us are grappling with as we live through uncertain times,” Mrs. Obama said. “I can’t wait to get back on the road and dive into it with such a thoughtful, impressive group of moderators.”

Tickets for all dates are available  at www.michelleobamabooks.com .

On November 15th, the same day as the tour kick-off, Michelle Obama will globally release her second book, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times. The book shares practical wisdom and powerful strategies for staying hopeful and balanced in today’s highly uncertain world.

The Light We Carry offers readers a series of fresh stories and insightful reflections on change, challenge, and power, including her belief that when we light up for others, we can illuminate the richness and potential of the world around us, discovering deeper truths and new pathways for progress.

The Light We Carry Tour: In Conversation with Michelle Obama 2022 Dates:  

*Bolded dates are newly added

About Michelle Obama MICHELLE OBAMA served as First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School, Mrs. Obama started her career as an attorney at the Chicago law firm Sidley & Austin, where she met her future husband, Barack Obama. She later worked in the Chicago mayor’s office, at the University of Chicago, and at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Mrs. Obama also founded the Chicago chapter of Public Allies, an organization that prepares young people for careers in public service. She is the author of the #1 global bestseller Becoming and the #1 national bestseller American Grown . The Obamas currently live in Washington, D.C., and have two daughters, Malia and Sasha. 

About Live Nation Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com .

About Crown

Crown is an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade book publisher, which is dedicated to its mission to ignite a universal passion for reading by creating books for everyone. The company, which employs more than 10,000 people globally, was formed on July 1, 2013, by Bertelsmann and Pearson. As of April 1, 2020, Bertelsmann is full owner of the company. With more than 300 imprints and brands on six continents, Penguin Random House comprises adult and children’s fiction and nonfiction print and digital English-, German-, and Spanish-language trade book publishing businesses in more than 20 countries worldwide. With over 16,000 new titles, and more than 700 million print, audio, and eBooks sold annually, Penguin Random House’s publishing lists include more than 80 Nobel Prize laureates and hundreds of the world’s most widely read authors.

The Light We Carry Media Contacts:

Michelle Obama

Crystal Carson | [email protected]  

Crown/Random House

Carisa Hays | [email protected]  

Penny Simon | [email protected]  

Tour Media Contact:

Live Nation Concerts    

Monique Sowinski | [email protected]  

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Michelle Obama

Closed December 6, 2022

Our glorious diversity - our diversities of faiths, and colors, and creeds - that is not a threat to who we are; it makes us who we are

Why See Michelle Obama?

Special Events In Conversation

The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times

During her tenure as First Lady Of The United States from 2009 to 2017, Michelle Obama made her mark on history in partnership with former commander in chief Barrack Obama, becoming the first African Americans to hold office at the White House. Yet this strong, intelligent symbol of hope never stood in her husband's shadow, using her position for the greater good of American communities and children.

Although the worldwide icon is playing to some rather large arenas Michelle Obama promises intimate and personal conversation as she speaks about her life in and out of the White House. In this funny, and insightful evening learn all about how Michelle Obama became one of the most influential women in the world.

Charitable Work

Using her powerful platform for the greater good, she set up and led four enriching initiatives - Let's Move, a charity dedicated to fighting childhood obesity, Joining Forces, a charity offering veteran support, Reach Higher, an organization that encourages higher education and Let Girls Learn, an initiative that promotes and fosters girls' education throughout the world.

Additional Information

Performance date: 5 December 2022

You may be required to wear a mask during this performance. Please contact the venue directly for more information.

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This is an independent website not affiliated with the venue. 'The Chicago Theatre' as well as all associated graphics, logos, and/or other trademarks, tradenames or copyrights are the property of MSG CHICAGO, LLC and are used herein for factual descriptive purposes only. This website is in no way associated with or authorized by MSG CHICAGO, LLC and neither that entity nor any of its affiliates have licensed or endorsed us to sell tickets, goods and or services in conjunction with their events. The term Michelle Obama as well as all associated graphics, logos, and/or other trademarks, tradenames or copyrights are the property of Michelle Obama and are used herein for factual descriptive purposes only. We are in no way associated with or authorized by Michelle Obama and neither that entity nor any of its affiliates have licensed or endorsed us to sell tickets, goods and or services in conjunction with their events.

Summer 2021 brings Kehinde Wiley’s painting of President Barack Obama and Amy Sherald’s portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama to our galleries.

The Obama Portraits

Jun 18 – Aug 15, 2021

Kehinde Wiley. Barack Obama , 2018. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. The National Portrait Gallery is grateful to the following lead donors for their support of the Obama portraits: Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg; Judith Kern and Kent Whealy; Tommie L. Pegues and Donald A. Capoccia. © 2018 Kehinde Wiley

• Galleries 182–184

This summer the Art Institute of Chicago welcomes two acclaimed portraits to its galleries: Kehinde Wiley’s painting of President Barack Obama and Amy Sherald’s portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Chicago is the first stop for the Obama portraits as part of a five-city tour organized by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C. As the family’s longtime home, Chicago has a unique connection to the Obamas, as does the Art Institute. Michelle Obama recalls visiting frequently with her family when she was growing up on the South Side, and the museum was also the site of the couple’s first date.

Not only do the portraits feature history-making subjects but they were made by groundbreaking artists. Wiley and Sherald are the first African Americans to be commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery to create official portraits of a president or first lady. Wiley placed a seated President Obama against a backdrop of flowers with special significance, including chrysanthemums, the official flower of Chicago. Sherald captured the former first lady against light-blue ground, sitting and gazing directly at the viewer.

The Art Institute is thrilled to provide our visitors—from Chicago and around the world—the opportunity to experience the power and beauty of these celebrated works in our galleries. After the Art Institute presentation, the portraits will travel on to the Brooklyn Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, High Museum of Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

Discover how Kehinde Wiley’s portrait of President Barack Obama both refers to tradition and re-envisions how power is depicted.

Learn more about the approach Amy Sherald took in creating her intimate and powerful portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Self-Guided Tours

Inspired by The Obama Portraits , these tours offer different ways to explore artworks throughout the collection.

Engage with The Obama Portraits

Events, Art Making, and More

We’re celebrating  The Obama Portraits  all summer long with free community events, virtual programs, and art making. Deepen your connection through unique programs and resources highlighting Chicago artists and exploring artworks from the museum’s permanent collection.

Teen Poetry Competition Winners

Listen to powerful poems written by Chicago high school teens in response to  The Obama Portraits  for the Portraits Teen Poetry Competition, a program created in collaboration with the museum’s Teen Council interns and open to all Chicago high schoolers.

Watch Events Celebrating The Obama Portraits

Virtual Conversation: Michelle Obama and Amy Sherald

Former First Lady Michelle Obama joined artist Amy Sherald for a powerful conversation moderated by Thelma Golden, director and chief curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem.

Virtual Conversation: The Obama Portraits —Featuring Artists Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald

Watch the opening event in celebration of the exhibition, featuring artists Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald in discussion with Jordan Carter, associate curator of Modern and Contemporary Art.

The Obama Portraits Tour is organized by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, Washington, DC. 

National Sponsor

The Art Institute thanks the many supporters who have funded the Chicago presentation, as well as access, education, and programming.

Lead Corporate Sponsor for the Chicago Presentation

Lead Individual Supporters   Lester Coney and Denise Gardner

Corporate Programming Sponsor

Leadership support is contributed by Illinois Tool Works and the Leadership Advisory Committee of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Major funding is provided by the Blanchard-Nesbitt Family; Suzette and Ally Bulley; Francesca and Liam Connell; Anne and Don Edwards; Paul, Dedrea, and Ian Gray, In the Works Foundation; Guida Family Foundation; Cheryl and Eric McKissack; and Peggy A. Montes.

Special support is contributed by Julia Langdon Antonatos and Larry Antonatos, Ariel Investments, Caroline Brown and Cairy Saltwell Brown, Ann Collins, Kevann M. Cooke, Marilyn and Larry Fields, Nickol and Darrel Hackett, Mellody Hobson, Linda Johnson Rice, The Joyner/Giuffrida Collection, the Langdon Neal Family, Fay and Daniel Levin, and Marisa Murillo.

Additional support is provided by Jozy Altidore, Azeeza, Chanel Coney, Javon Coney, Don and Kristen Crawley, Allison and Susan Davis, Andrea Ellis, Steven Galanis, Kyle and Ashley Gardner, Andre Iguodala, Olivia John, Jasmine Jordan, Deven Rand, Alexa Rice, and Sloane Stephens.

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National News | Michelle Obama opens tour for new book, ‘The…

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National news | michelle obama opens tour for new book, ‘the light we carry’.

Michelle Obama says it helps to focus on what you can control when you feel out of control.

Among the things she could control during the death and isolation of the pandemic, the racial unrest and threats to democracy were her spools of yarn and her knitting needles.

She labels such thinking the “power of small,” and she writes in her new book, “The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times,” that by focusing on a small task like knitting she was able to get through the worry, anxiety and stress of the past few unsettling years.

“The interesting thing about knitting and using your hands and making something is that it is meditative,” the former first lady said Tuesday night at the Warner Theater in Washington, where she kicked off a monthlong, six-city publicity tour to promote the book.

“In so many ways, it is like a faith,” she said, seated on stage with a friend, former daytime talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres, who engaged Mrs. Obama in nearly 90 minutes of often humorous conversation. “It’s a thing that shuts your worrying mind and lets your hands take over.”

And therein lies the power, she said.

“I think about the knit and the purl, and the knit and the purl, and a row and a row and a row,” the former first lady said, naming different stitches and techniques used in knitting. “And if you keep it up, and you’re focused, you have a sweater.”

In the book, published Tuesday, she shares the contents of her “personal toolbox” — the habits and practices, attitudes and beliefs, and even physical objects that she uses to overcome her feelings of fear, helplessness and self doubt.

“This book is meant to show you what I keep there and why, what I use professionally and personally to help me stay balanced and confident, what keeps me moving forward even during times of high anxiety and stress,” she wrote in the introduction.

The 58-year-old wife of former President Barack Obama and mother of adult daughters Malia and Sasha wrote that the book, her third, is not a how-to manual, but rather is a “series of honest reflections on what my life has taught me so far.”

“Keep in mind, too, that everything I know, all the various tools I lean on, have come to me only through trial and error, over years of constant practice and reevaluation,” she wrote. “I spent decades learning on my feet, making mistakes, adjustments, and course corrections as I went. I’ve progressed only slowly to where I am today.”

“The Light We Carry” is Mrs. Obama’s first new work since the 2018 release of her bestselling memoir, “Becoming,” which has sold more than 17 million copies worldwide, by far the most popular book by a previous first lady or modern president, including her husband.

As first lady, she wrote “American Grown,” a book about the produce garden she had planted at the White House in 2009.

Mrs. Obama opened the tour in Washington and has events planned at Philadelphia’s The Met, Atlanta’s Fox Theatre, the Chicago Theatre and San Francisco’s Masonic before the tour closes at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles.

Seated in a plush purple chair on stage at the nearly 100-year-old Washington theater, Mrs. Obama discussed her feelings after the 2016 election in which her husband was succeeded by Donald Trump. Coincidentally, Trump announced a third run for president during her appearance.

“If you guys recall, I said, ‘Don’t vote for this guy,'” she said, meaning Trump, who sought to undo much of Obama’s record as president. “It hurt because you wonder — was it a rebuke of the eight years, the sacrifice we made? Was it complacency? What was it?”

The former first lady also discussed overcoming her fear of change and coming to the realization that she could not stand in the way of her husband’s desire to run for president in 2008. He had given her veto power over his decision.

“Opportunity is on the other side of that,” she said, speaking of fear.

She also talked about the pandemic, saying her family handled it better than most because they were already used to isolation from the eight years they lived in the White House “bubble.”

She spoke about how hard it was as first lady — and still is — to make new friends she can trust, and how fun it is to watch her daughters “adult” as they share an apartment in California. The girls had returned to Washington to live with their parents during the pandemic.

Sasha had completed one semester at the University of Michigan before she came back home. Malia, who was enrolled at Harvard, spent her senior year at home and ended up missing out on a graduation ceremony because of COVID-19. So her parents staged a ceremony in their backyard, complete with commencement speakers.

“It was me, and Barack,” Mrs. Obama said, laughing. “We told her how lucky she was. She got us both.”

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Ellen DeGeneres, Tyler Perry and David Letterman Among Star-Studded Lineup of Guests on Michelle Obama’s Upcoming Book Tour (EXCLUSIVE)

By Anna Tingley

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Michelle Obama is hitting the road this fall to publicize her upcoming book “ The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times ,” and a star-studded lineup of moderators is scheduled to appear alongside the Former First Lady for tour dates across the country.

Popular on Variety

The book will release on Nov. 15 and is her second book following her bestselling memoir “ Becoming .” In its 336 pages, she offers a series of stories and insightful reflections on change, challenge and power — including her belief that when we “light up” for others, we can illuminate the richness and potential of the world around us, discovering deeper truths and new pathways for progress.

In tandem with the physical release, an unabridged audio edition of the book, read by Obama, will be released by Penguin Random House Audio. The book will be published simultaneously in 14 languages and 27 countries around the world, with additional languages and territories to be announced.

Buy tickets for “The Light We Carry” book tour here , and check out the full list of dates below. Pre-order “The Light We Carry” here.

Nov. 15 – Washington D.C, Warner Theatre

Nov. 16 – Washington D.C., Warner Theatre

Nov. 17 – Washington D.C., Warner Theatre

Nov. 18 – Philadelphia, PA The Met

Nov. 19 – Philadelphia, PA The Met

Dec. 2 – Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre

Dec. 3- Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre

Dec. 6 – Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre

Dec. 9 – San Francisco, CA Masonic

Dec. 10 – San Francisco, CA Masonic

Dec. 11 -San Francisco, CA Masonic

Dec. 13 – Los Angeles, CA Youtube Theatre

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Watch CBS News

Michelle Obama Book Tour Draws Beyoncé-Like Prices

September 25, 2018 / 6:29 PM CDT / CBS Chicago

CHICAGO (CBS) --  Has Michelle deserted the masses? That is the question some women, especially black women, are asking after seeing the sky-high ticket prices for Michelle Obama's book tour.

CBS 2's Derrick Blakley said Michelle Obama's book tour consists of inclusionary talk, but exclusionary prices. There won't be any low-key, Hillary-like book signings for Michelle; instead, she's proving to be an arena-star like Beyoncé.

Michelle Obama's November 13 th book tour kicks off at the United Center in Chicago. The demand is so high, an additional show is being considered; but some big supporters of the former First Lady say she has priced herself right out of their league.

Writer Michelle Duster openly admires Michelle Obama, and even wrote a book about the former First Lady; but her book tour prices have left Duster in shock.

"I didn't anticipate the lowest price would be $500, five minutes into the ticket sales," Duster said.

United Center tickets ranged from $29.50 all the way up to $3,000 for VIP treatment. The cheaper tickets were sold out immediately, leaving disappointment bordering on bitterness for many.

"I think there's a disconnect: what they stand for, what they have stood for and worked for, and the ticket prices," said Duster.

"You definitely wanted everyone to see her who can, but there's also an element of 'be proud of her.' This is a former First Lady who made history and now she's making history the way she's doing her book tour," stated Kyra Kyles, a former Ebony editor-in-chief and current contributor to The Grio.

Others sense a denial that the Obamas are no longer "regular folk."

Political consultant Delmarie Cobb said, "They have a reason to be upset because I'm sure they felt that if she was going to be a book tour, it was going to be for the masses, not just for the elite."

The tour promoter, Live Nation, is donating 10% of all ticket sales to charities, schools, and community groups to increase accessibility, which is why an arena tour was chosen in the first place.

The steep prices, however, seem to be working against that goal.

• United Center
• Derrick Blakley
• Michelle Obama

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A Michelle Obama Tour of Chicago

Christy Childers

Christy Childers is a writer obsessed with books, travel, British television, & superheroes. She has lived in Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago, & England, & is never happier than when she's visiting a new country or reading a new book. Blog: Postcards to Authors Twitter: ChildersChristy

View All posts by Christy Childers

Are you reading Michelle Obama’s book, Becoming ? Want to see some of the places she mentions in the book, the homes she lived in on the South Side of Chicago?

Well, then this little Michelle Obama tour of Chicago is for you!

Where she was born: Parkway Gardens in Woodlawn

“…we were living across the hall from my father’s parents in Parkway Gardens, an affordable housing project on the South Side made up of modernist apartment buildings. It had been built in the 1950s and was designed as a co-op, meant to ease a post-World War II housing shortage for black working-class families. Later, it would deteriorate under the grind of poverty and gang violence, becoming one of the city’s more dangerous places to live. Long before this, though, when I was still a toddler, my parents — who had met as teenagers and married in their mid-twenties — accepted an offer to move a few miles south to Robbie and Terry’s place in a nicer neighborhood.” —Michelle Obama, Becoming (page 5)

Where she grew up, and where she and Barack Obama lived when they were newlyweds: 7436 S. Euclid in South Shore

“I spent much of my childhood listening to the sound of striving. It came in the form of bad music, or at least amateur music, coming up through the floorboards of my bedroom — the plink plink plink of students sitting downstairs at my great-aunt Robbie’s piano, slowly and imperfectly learning their scales. My family lived in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago, in a tidy brick bungalow that belonged to Robbie and her husband, Terry. My parents rented an apartment on the second floor, while Robbie and Terry lived on the first.” —Michelle Obama, Becoming (page 3)

The condo she and Barack Obama were living in when their babies were born: 5450 S. East View Park in Hyde Park

“Later that spring, we had our finances in order enough to buy a condo, moving out of 7436 South Euclid Avenue and into a pretty, railroad-style apartment in Hyde Park with hardwood floors and a tiled fireplace, a new launchpad for our life.” —Michelle Obama, Becoming (page 174)

Their home while running for president: 5046 S. Greenwood Ave in Kenwood

“We lived in a nice house now, a Georgian brick home on a quiet street in the Kenwood neighborhood, with a wide porch and tall trees in the yard — exactly the kind of place Craig and I used to gape at during Sunday drives in my dad’s Buick.” —Michelle Obama, Becoming (page 222)

(all pictures by Christy Childers )

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